MARYSVILLE, May 29, 2013 -- Registered Nurses represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement between the healthcare organization and the union, which represents RNs at Rideout Memorial Hospital, Fremont Medical Center and the Rideout Cancer Center.

The contract, which was ratified in a vote yesterday evening, is valid for four years. The terms of the agreement include across the board wage increases in each of the four years in addition to other benefit enhancements in retirement, paid time off, holidays and insurance premiums for employees.

In addition, new or updated contract language establishes or clarifies standards and requirements for various work rules such as stand-by pay, paid time off, lunches and breaks, medical leaves of absence, union dues, patient lifting procedures and patient safety.

"We're gratified by the RNs' ratification of this agreement, which was negotiated in good faith by both parties over many months," said Theresa Hamilton, CEO, Rideout Health. "That time at the bargaining table also served to develop new ways of working together to deliver the superior patient care to which our nurses are so deeply dedicated."

Rideout Health is the independent, non-profit, community-based healthcare organization that operates Rideout Memorial Hospital, Fremont Medical Center and other medical facilities around the Yuba-Sutter region. It also is the area's largest non-government employer. In fulfillment of its mission to provide quality healthcare to everyone, regardless of financial circumstance, in 2011 the organization provided nearly $50 million in unreimbursed or free medical care to uninsured or under-insured patients. www.RideoutHealth.org.